JCTR Bulletin 47 - The JCTR Update

THE JCTR UPDATE: PEOPLE & ACTIVITIES

WHAT KEEPS US BUSY AT THE JCTR? HERE ARE SOME RECENT ITEMS OF INTEREST.

“PROMOTING FAITH AND JUSTICE”

For the past few years, the JCTR staff has been talking among themselves and with many others about the possible change of the name of our centre. A new name strongly considered was “Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice.”

The arguments in favour of the change were that the proposed name would more accurately reflect the nature of the centre and link us to similar Jesuit centres around the world. But other views were that we would lose a clear focus on theological reflection – central to our mission – and we would also lose name recognition. “JCTR” has become almost a household name, because of publicity given to our many projects. Someone suggested that it would be like giving up the name “Coca Cola”!

So we have decided to keep the current name of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, but add a “subtitle” on our letter head, Bulletin, and printed materials. The subtitle will be: “Promoting Faith and Justice.” This gives us both the dynamic focus of “promoting” and the specific emphasis on a faith that includes as an essential element the doing of justice.

INCULTURATION TASK FORCE

The Inculturation Task Force, introduced in Bulletin issue No. 44., with a focus of situating the church's social teaching in the local culture -- the notion that one does not need to be a European or an American to be a Christian, continues with its series of meetings held at JCTR. Currently, the task force is focusing on traditional healing. Following a half-day seminar held at UNZA on 24 January on the subject ''African World View and Pastoral Challenges of Traditional Healing, the Task Force had a meeting at JCTR. Among the outcomes of the meeting was planned programmes on Radio Yatsani at which various issues relating to the subject will be discussed.

DEBT PROJECT

Late last year, in an effort to build more South-South and North-South collaboration in the debt campaign, George Makaha participated at the Dakar meeting organised by Jubilee South in conjunction with northern groups. The meeting aimed at designing and consolidating strategies for the world-wide movement for debt cancellation and promotion of economic justice in general.

The JCTR through the Debt project has been heavily involved in the preparation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). From 14 to 15 March 2001 a national forum for Civil Society's participation in the PRSP was held. The forum brought together 90 representatives of Civil Society Organisations from Lusaka and other regions of Zambia. The aim of the workshop was to have the facilitators in the PRSP process present Situational Analysis documents to allow wider consultations from Civil Society and enable the formulation of Civil Society position papers.

Still on the Debt Project, currently, the project is undertaking through Kamoto Theatre Group community sensitisation on Zambia's qualification to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) and its implications for the country. The sensitization performances are also aimed at mobilizing people to advocate for a transparent and accountable framework for allocating debt relief resources. The sensitisation performances are taking place in various communities in Lusaka and plans are there to extend the performances to other regions.

OASIS MEETING

Peter Henriot, S.J. presented a paper at the meeting held at Oasis Restaurant to discuss calls currently taking place in the country for the amendment of the Republican Constitution. The Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and the NGOs Coordinating Committees (NGOCC) convened the meeting. The thesis of his presentation was entitled ''The Protection of the Constitution is a Necessary Condition for the Creation of an Enabling Environment for Development in Zambia Today and into the Future.''

Catherine Kachidza, participated in a meeting on Conflict Resolution organised by KATU under KEPA Zambia. They identified peace building issues for Zambia: Presidential and General Elections, Governance and Poverty, Intolerance of divergent views, Media coverage, Public Order Act, Refugees, Land issue as well as Ethnicity.

VISITORS TO JCTR

JCTR continues to have visitors from various organisations and backgrounds. The visitors come to share and exchange information, analyses on various issues, economy, social, political, etc.

Every year, Peter Henriot, S.J., does a synopsis on the Socio and Economic situation of Zambia, highlighting such issues as economic conditions, debt situation, social indicators, cost of living, etc.

This has proved handy to our visitors and other interested organisations and individuals as it enables a quick understanding of the country's development situation.

Table of Contents